I've written about Brazil pre-Lula and post-Lula and spent the last five years covering all aspects of the country for Dow Jones, Wall Street Journal and Barron's. Meanwhile, for an undetermined amount of time, and with a little help from my friends, I will be parachuting primarily into Brazil, Russia, India and China. But will also be on the look out for interesting business stories and investing ideas throughout the emerging markets.

India Second Asian Nation To Get Google Store

Not to be outdone by smartphone rival Apple, Google has taken to create their own stores and will have a foot in one of the biggest mobile markets in the world — India –when it partners with Singapore-based Spice Global to open Android Nation in New Delhi’s Select Citywalk Mall later this year.

The Economic Timesreported on Thursday that the Apple Store rival will promote and sell Android smartphones and tablets across multiple brands like Samsung, HTC and LG, to name a few. Spice Global has been in the telecom biz for years, introducing the first 2G and 3G carriers to India. The company is owned by Bhupendra Kumar Modi, one of India’s richest millionaires.

India is only the second country after Indonesia to get Android Nation stores — a move that indicates how much importance Google gives to the market. The first Android Nation store opened in Jakarta last year. Google now operates two such stores in Jakarta in partnership with Indonesian electronics retailer Erafone.

Both Microsoft and Apple already have stores in India.

Modi told the ET that Spice Global’s partnership with Google is not restricted to India. The company will also push Android devices in the Middle East, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Africa.

India’s mobile market has taken a giant leap forward over the last three years with penetration rates for smart phones at just 3% in 2010, rising to 16% in 2012, according to eMarketer. This year’s growth is seen at 23%, with a one percentage annual growth rate over the next three years.

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